A FORMER army warrant officer from Beith has been appointed president of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.

James Quinn, who made the move to health and safety when his service ended, was confirmed in his new role at IOSH’s annual general meeting last week.

The veteran said the support of the body and its members when he changed careers allowed him to get to where he is today.

He said: “Becoming IOSH president is a real honour for me. Those first initial steps into this profession were very nervy and tentative ones, and I wouldn’t have expected that a few years later I’d be sat here speaking to you as president.

“Along with the support from friends, family and colleagues, the guidance I received from IOSH helped me navigate the difficult transition into a new career.”

James now works as senior health and safety manager for construction contractor Multiplex and is currently overseeing the company’s Broadway project in London.

He believes a number of army skills are transferrable into health and safety, making it a viable career prospect for anyone coming to the end of their service.

He added: “I am keen that people who are starting out in the profession, whether it’s their first career or they’ve just made a career change, receive the same level of support as I did.”

James will hold the position for the next 12 months, and vows to continue supporting IOSH’s members to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

He said: “It has been a very difficult time for businesses across all sectors.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is unpredictable and provides us with uncertainty over what is going to happen in the next year.

“But one thing we can be certain of is that IOSH will be right behind its members and the businesses they work for.”